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I am a sucker for anything peach. Peaches bring back memories of our back yard as a kid and laying under the peach tree. We spent many hours waiting anxiously for those peaches to get ripe. When they finally were we would pick them and eat them right then and there with the juice running down our chin and arms. That one small gnarled tree gave us bushels of peaches every year. I still wait anxiously for peach season to arrive. A fresh peach smoothie is the best way to bring back those days of summer. Fresh peaches mixed with milk and a protein powder is delicious and nutritious. I also like to use frozen peaches just because it makes it nice and cold.

Peel and slice peaches

Make sure your peaches are ripe. They should be soft to the touch but firm, and have a strong peach smell. Wash the peaches then cut them in half. Remove peels with a paring knife, a ripe peach peel should come off easily. Remove the pit, a freestone peach pit will remove easily otherwise cut the peach meat away from the stone. Slice the peaches.

Combine ingredients

In a blender pour 1 cup of milk or milk alternative, (fresh half and half or coconut cream can be used to make it extra creamy) Add your favorite protein powder and the prepared peach slices. Add several cubes of ice. Pulse in the blender a few times then puree in blender until smooth.

Pour smoothie in glass

Once the smoothie is well blended. Pour into a glass and enjoy the fresh flavor of summer. The thick creamy mixture will replenish your body and your soul. This makes a great breakfast drink and a cool afternoon pick me up. This would be extra good poured over some diced peaches for variety.

This berry blueberry smoothie bowl is so delicious, Blueberries, blackberries raspberries and strawberries, mixed with chia seeds, hemp seeds and protien powder is a great way to start your day. Top this with bananas and walnuts and you will be ready to face your day full of energy that lasts. Chia seeds have sustainable energy are full of fiber and protien, they also contain omega 3 and are full of antioxidants. Hemp seeds are loaded with omega 6 and omega 3 they are high in protien (1 tbl =3-4 grams approximately). Berries are packed with phytochemicals and nano-nutrients that you can not get elsewhere, so load up your daily smoothie with these delicious nutrient dense ingredients and you will feel better and be healthier.

First steps to you blueberry smoothie. Wash and dry, the berries. Add 1 cup of unsweetened fruit juice to blender. Add chia seeds, hemp seeds and protien powder. I also add a handful of walnuts for the healthy polyunsaturated oils they contain. Blend until well mixed. If needed a a small amount of juice to allow blender to mix completely. Unless you have a super blender all the seeds will not get chopped smoothly, so this is a bit chewy. I think this adds to the nutty healthiness of the smoothie.

After blending ingredients in the blender pour into a bowl that will hold about 2 cups. Top with sliced bananas, walnuts halves, blueberries and a strawberry. Then sit down, relax a few minutes and spoon in the bounty of natural goodness in a bowl. The berry smoothie mixed with bananas, walnuts and blueberry is so satisfying. The long lasting energy in this bowl will make you want to run through your day smiling on every one you see.

As a youngster, I would watch TV shows and someone was always making a green smoothie drink, usually with raw eggs and grass. I always cringed, who would want to drink anything GREEN??? As my taste buds have matured and I have chosen a healthier lifestyle, green smoothies are a daily necessity. I do not start my day without my green smoothie to get my mind and body moving.

This one is a tropical delight that reminds me of sitting in a beach side restaurant with the ocean breeze blowing in. I had no worries and planned to just enjoy life on island time.

In blender combine, coconut milk, spinach, mango and pineapple. I used frozen since that is what I usually have on hand. Fresh makes this even more delightful. In this modern era, you can buy fresh fruit already cut, so I like to use those when I can.

Pulse a few times to chop up the chunks of fruit, then blend on high until completely smooth. It will be a beautiful green, the aroma of coconut, pineapple and mango will instantly relax your mind. Top it off with an umbrella and forget about your schedule for a few minutes

This is a fresh alternative to breakfast, strawberry smoothie bowl with yogurt. Strawberries blended in a smoothie, then served in a bowl with fresh homemade granola and a dollop of yogurt. This smoothie bowl is a way to kick start your day, better than your usual cornflakes breakfast.

In blender combine, milk (or milk alternative) add 5-6 whole strawberries stems and leaves included, add a tsp of honey to sweeten it just a bit. Pulse until strawberries are chopped up then blend on high until completely smooth.

Pour the smoothie mix in a bowl, sprinkle with granola, a few dollops of greek yogurt and top with sliced strawberries.

have found that a smoothie bowl is an enjoyable way to start your day, taking the time to sit and eat your breakfast gives you time to reflect on your day before running off at warp speed. The taste and textures really give your mind and body a energy boost.

I love smoothies, I have one every morning. When the idea of smoothie bowl was introduced to me I was skeptical. After making and eating this version I can see the attractions to eating your smoothie in a bowl. Adding whole fruit and granola to your bowl of smoothie makes a nice chew-able breakfast, the crunch of granola and sweetness of the fruit is quite delicious.

I need to have a protein with my breakfast or I get sick since I have hypoglycemia, so I use a protein supplement. Whatever your preferred source is fine, soy, whey or paleo. I also can not drink cows milk so I used cashew milk. Whatever milk source you can tolerate works well. I have used coconut milk, quinoa milk and almond milk all taste great. Fresh or frozen raspberries work equally well.

Combine milk, chocolate protein powder and raspberries, in a blender. Pulse to combine then blend on high for a bit until completely mixed. Ice can be added if you want a colder version.

Pour into a bowl, sprinkle on granola, raspberries, and quinoa. Then enjoy this delicious nutritious protein packed breakfast.

Nuts can also be added to bowl if desired, pecans, almonds or walnuts would work great.

If adding frozen raspberries to your bowl, rinse in cool water to quickly defrost.

Ingredients

1 cup raspberries, fresh or frozen

1 cup milk or milk alternative

2 tablespoon chocolate protein powder

1 tablespoon chia seeds

½ cup granola

Instructions

In blender combine milk, chocolate powder, ½ cup raspberries

Pulse a few times to combine then blend to thoroughly combine

Pour into bowl

Sprinkle with remaining raspberries, chia seeds and granola

Notes

½-1 cup ice can be added if you prefer a colder version
Fresh or frozen raspberries can be used
Rinse frozen raspberries in cool water to defrost quickly

Lemonade infused with the relaxing properties of lavender creates the most divine drink for a warm summer day. I felt like wrapping myself in a juicy romance novel and letting the world slip away.

I acquired some fresh lavender from a neighbor. When using lavender it is recommended that a culinary type is used. English or french lavender work well. Dried culinary lavender can be obtained at many natural food stores or online. Fresh lavender can also be purchased at a natural food store.

Meanwhile prepare lemonade, I do not live where lemons are abundant or cheap. I purchase “Simply Lemonade” from the grocery store. Frozen can also be used, this however has artificial ingredients in it which I do not recommend.

To add the lavender water to your lemonade you will need to strain the flowers out. Simply pour the water through a fine mesh strainer. I added 1 cup of lavender water to my 2 quarts of lemonade and then tested for flavor. Then added more if needed.

t is recommended that you do not add to much lavender as this can result in a perfumey or soapy flavor. Just a slight aroma and delicate flavor is desired.

The end result is a beautifully colored, sweet lemonade with a relaxing smooth aroma and taste.